The IMF and the Sustainable Development Goals

Member countries of the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 with full support from the IMF. These global development targets will guide the global development agenda through 2030.

The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals. The SDGs are broader in scope than their predecessor and reflect the view that development needs to be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

There are 17 SDGs focused on five elements: people, planet, peace, prosperity, and partnership. Achieving these goals will require action at the national and international levels.

Loading component...

What is the IMF doing on SDGs?

The IMF has launched a number of initiatives to enhance support for its member countries as they pursue the SDGs.

	The IMF has helped low-income and emerging market economies assess the additional spending required to reach the SDGs in five key sectors: health, education, water and sanitation, roads, and electricity.

	A Staff Discussion Note presented a macroeconomic framework that helps assess development strategies and financing options for meeting the SDGs and is developing a user tool based on this framework.
	The IMF expanded financial support for low-income developing countries in 2015, 2019, and more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, made IMF lending under the Rapid Credit Facility permanently interest-free, and extended the zero percent interest rate to all other IMF concessional loans.
	The IMF has supported developing countries seeking to boost domestic revenue mobilization, including by collaborating with other international organizations through the Platform for Collaboration on Tax.
	The IMF has helped member countries improve infrastructure governance. Over 80 Public Investment Management Assessments (PIMA) have been conducted, and the new Climate-PIMA to help governments build climate-resilient infrastructure has been rolled out. Working with development partners, the IMF is supporting the “G20 Compact with Africa” to promote private investment, including for infrastructure, in Africa.

The IMF, with the World Bank, has refined its debt sustainability assessments for low-income countries to better guide their borrowing decisions and keep public debt on a sustainable path.

When these are important to sustain macroeconomic stability, the IMF has been integrating research findings on development issues into its operational work on topics such as:

the role of diversification and structural transformation in sustained growth in developing countries and the policies needed to strengthen infrastructure in a cost-effective manner, support financial deepening, and boost agricultural productivity.
encouraging sustainable growth and macroeconomic stability by promoting policies that widen access to jobs, financial services, and other aspects of the economy.
reforming energy and carbon pricing and supporting countries to enhance their resilience to climate-related events.

Loading component...

Last updated was in April 2025.

What is the IMF doing on SDGs?

The IMF has launched a number of initiatives to enhance support for its member countries as they pursue the SDGs.

	The IMF has helped low-income and emerging market economies assess the additional spending required to reach the SDGs in five key sectors: health, education, water and sanitation, roads, and electricity.

	A Staff Discussion Note presented a macroeconomic framework that helps assess development strategies and financing options for meeting the SDGs and is developing a user tool based on this framework.
	The IMF expanded financial support for low-income developing countries in 2015, 2019, and more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, made IMF lending under the Rapid Credit Facility permanently interest-free, and extended the zero percent interest rate to all other IMF concessional loans.
	The IMF has supported developing countries seeking to boost domestic revenue mobilization, including by collaborating with other international organizations through the Platform for Collaboration on Tax.
	The IMF has helped member countries improve infrastructure governance. Over 80 Public Investment Management Assessments (PIMA) have been conducted, and the new Climate-PIMA to help governments build climate-resilient infrastructure has been rolled out. Working with development partners, the IMF is supporting the “G20 Compact with Africa” to promote private investment, including for infrastructure, in Africa.

The IMF, with the World Bank, has refined its debt sustainability assessments for low-income countries to better guide their borrowing decisions and keep public debt on a sustainable path.

When these are important to sustain macroeconomic stability, the IMF has been integrating research findings on development issues into its operational work on topics such as:

the role of diversification and structural transformation in sustained growth in developing countries and the policies needed to strengthen infrastructure in a cost-effective manner, support financial deepening, and boost agricultural productivity.
encouraging sustainable growth and macroeconomic stability by promoting policies that widen access to jobs, financial services, and other aspects of the economy.
reforming energy and carbon pricing and supporting countries to enhance their resilience to climate-related events.

IMF’s Work

RESOURCES

TOPICS

Flagship Publications

Other Publications

IMF reports and publications by country

Regional Offices

All News

See Also

For Journalists

Press Center

RESOURCES

FLAGSHIPS

KEY SERIES

IMF NOTES

Loading component...

The IMF and the Sustainable Development Goals

Loading component...

What is the IMF doing on SDGs?

Loading component...

Loading component...

Loading component...

IMF’s Work

RESOURCES

TOPICS

Flagship Publications

Other Publications

IMF reports and publications by country

Regional Offices

All News

See Also

For Journalists

Press Center

RESOURCES

FLAGSHIPS

KEY SERIES

IMF NOTES

What is the IMF doing on SDGs?